VIOLETS FOR MY SISTERS
Violets for My Sisters is the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation’s annual fundraiser for the Clasped Hands Fund, which provides emergency assistance to alumnae in financial distress. Since its establishment, the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation has awarded more than $880,000 in Clasped Hands Fund grants to Alpha Delta Pi alumnae in need.
Fun fact: Violets for My Sisters has its origins at the 1993 Grand Convention in Palm Desert, California.
In 1993, the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary. That summer, during the 1993 Grand Convention in Palm Desert, California, the Foundation announced the Clasped Hands Fund to help alumnae in need and started a fundraising effort that would soon become a decade-spanning tradition.
During the Foundation dinner that summer, each attendee received an anniversary card, and the Foundation Trustees asked all attendees to make a gift to the new fund in honor of a sister who represented the Clasped Hands of Friendship. After making their gift, each card was attached to an anniversary tree representing all the gifts that had been made that day. Because of these original gifts, the Clasped Hands Fund was established with more than $14,000. The Fund was endowed in 1997 thanks to a generous gift from Deen Day Sanders, Beta Sigma–Mercer.
Today, Violets for My Sisters is a hybrid virtual and in-person fundraiser. Members (and friends of ADPi, with the help of our Foundation staff) can make a gift online in honor of a sister or Executive Office staff member. Each honoree receives an email notification letting them know a gift has been made in their honor. Honorees attending Grand Convention will also receive a Violet (our traditional violet appliqué) to wear on their nametag.
The Violets for My Sisters website(violetsformysisters.org) will be open through June 1, after which Violets will be available in person June 17-20 at our 175th Anniversary Grand Convention. Stop by the Foundation Display starting on Wednesday afternoon to pick up Violets you’ve been honored with and to make a gift in honor of other attendees.
GET THE MOST OUT OF GRAND CONVENTION
Meet NEW sisters – Talk to women you don’t know. One of the best things about Grand Convention is the chance to meet sisters from across the United States and Canada. Exchange contact information. You never know when you might need to contact a sister to ask for ideas and resources!
Introduce yourself – Current and past Grand Council members, International Officers, Executive Office staff, and other volunteers all attend, so you never know who you might meet! Don’t be shy about asking questions and seeking the help you need.
Experience ADPi traditions – Take part in the many Alpha Delta Pi traditions of Grand Convention, including walking in the Adelphean Processional, joining in singing traditional ADPi songs, and learning from our special history moments.
Share on social media – When sharing your new favorite Grand Convention memories on social media, tag Alpha Delta Pi and use #ADPiConvention.
Stock up on memorabilia – During registration, purchase the official Grand Convention t-shirt and badge and stop by The 1851 Shop and Herff Jones booths for more ADPi merchandise.
IT'S A DRY HEAT!
The average high in Palm Desert, California in June is 102° F with a low of 70° F. Hotel meeting rooms can often feel cool, so you may wish to bring a light sweater. Check here for current weather conditions in Palm Desert, California.
RECOMMENDED DRESS
Resort casual attire is recommended for Grand Convention with the below themed events/days.
Resort casual is relaxed yet polished and professional and fits the setting of our resort venue. Attendees may wish to wear sundresses, blouses with skirts or lightweight pants, jumpsuits, or other comfortable outfits that feel put together while remaining breathable and easy to wear throughout the day. Sandals, wedges, or flats are appropriate footwear. Avoid denim, shorts, short rompers, flip-flops, or beach footwear during most events.
Please note that Saturday evening will feature a formal dinner, which will have its own attire guidance.
Wearing your Alpha Delta Pi badge is highly encouraged.
For inspiration, please check out our curated Pinterest page HERE!
Opening Night Celebration: As you travel to Grand Convention and join us for the ADPi Opening Night Celebration, we encourage attire that feels polished and celebratory as we kick off this historic gathering. Sundresses or dressy separates such as skirts or slacks paired with a blouse in ADPi colors are all appropriate. This evening will include special moments and photo opportunities as we begin celebrating the 175th Grand Convention together.
Adelphean Processional: To participate, you must be wearing a white dress, suit, slacks, or pantsuit (without colored trim) and solid white or skin tone shoes. Denim and flip flops are not permitted. Every attendee dressed in proper attire may participate in the Adelphean Processional. After the Processional and Convention photograph, you may change into resort casual attire.
Lunch and Business Meetings: Resort casual attire
Brunch: We will celebrate our school spirit on Friday. Feel free to wear the colors representing the college or university you attend(ed), work with, or support. You are welcome to wear school-colored dressy casual, but no tees or jeans. We recommend adding a button or scarf to your outfit to represent your institution!
Blue and White Day: Show your Alpha Delta Pi pride by wearing your best blue and white resort casual attire during the day on Saturday.
Diamond Awards Banquet: Saturday night’s dinner will be a formal affair filled with celebration and sisterhood. Please wear semi-formal/formal attire.
TRADITIONS
Traditions play an important role in the history of Alpha Delta Pi, and Grand Convention is an event rich with tradition. In order to make your attendance at the 2026 Grand Convention more meaningful, an overview of some of the convention traditions follows:
The Adelphean Processional was instituted at the 1941 Grand Convention. The plan was to recreate the original parade of Adelpheans through the halls of Wesleyan in their white dresses with blue satin ribands announcing the founding of the Adelphean Society. All officers and convention delegates wore plain white dresses with blue satin ribands bearing the motto, “We Live for Each Other,” as they processed into the Formal Opening Session of that convention. Today, this practice remains a part of the Formal Opening with all attendees wearing white attire. Everyone is invited to participate in the Adelphean Processional at the 2026 Grand Convention.
Part of the Formal Opening Session includes the display of chapter flags. As each chapter’s name is called, the chapter’s flag is presented and displayed throughout Grand Convention. Chapter presidents/delegates serve as flag bearers for their chapter. Flag bearers are needed for dormant chapters. If you would like to bear the flag for a dormant chapter, please indicate this on the registration form.
Following the close of the Formal Opening Session, all attendees in white attire recess immediately to the location chosen for the official convention photo.
Violets for My Sisters is the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation’s annual fundraiser for the Clasped Hands Fund, which provides emergency assistance to alumnae in financial distress. Violets for My Sisters may be gifted in advance or on-site in Palm Desert, and honorees will receive violet appliques letting them know you have honored them with a gift.
Toasts have been given at convention banquets on the closing night since the first National Convention in Macon, Georgia, in 1906. In 1964, chapters presented silver punch cups with their chapter name and installation date to Memorial Headquarters with additional officers and associations purchasing cups over the years. Delegates and International Officers use the cups for toasts at the Diamond Awards Banquet.
The final night banquet has been part of Grand Convention since the 1909 convention with awards presentations included since the 1921 convention. Originally called the “Feast of the Diamond,” this event is now named the “Diamond Awards Banquet.”
The close of each Diamond Awards Banquet on the final night of convention features the Candlelight Roll Call of Chapters. This tradition, which is not ritual, began at the Centennial Convention in 1951. At the conclusion of the Diamond Awards Banquet, overhead lights are dimmed and members stand and light a pen light as the name of their chapter of initiation is called from the chapter roll. Everyone remains standing until the chapter roll is complete. Once all chapters have been called, Grand Council quietly leads the attendees as everyone gathers and sings Alpha Delta Pi songs.
While there are many other traditions involved with Grand Conventions, we hope advanced knowledge of those highlighted above will enrich your convention experience. As you attend Grand Convention and take part in these traditional festivities, you may want to think of the many sisters before you with whom you now share this common bond of affection and experience, and of those sisters yet unknown who will carry on these treasured traditions.
